COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) No 231/2012 of 9 March 2012
E 402 POTASSIUM ALGINATE
Synonyms
Definition
Einecs:
Chemical name: Potassium salt of alginic acid
Chemical formula: (C 6 H 7 KO 6 ) n
Molecular weight: 10 000-600 000 (typical average)
Assay: Yields, on the anhydrous basis, not less than 16,5 % and not more than 19,5 % of carbon dioxide corresponding to not less than 89,2 % and not more than 105,5 % of potassium alginate (calculated on an equivalent weight basis of 238)
Description
Nearly odourless, white to yellowish fibrous or granular powder
Identification
Test for potassium: Passes test
Test for alginic acid: Passes test
Purity
Loss on drying: Not more than 15 % (105 °C, 4 hours)
Water insoluble matter: Not more than 2 % on the anhydrous basis
Formaldehyde: Not more than 50 mg/kg
Arsenic: Not more than 3 mg/kg
Lead: Not more than 5 mg/kg
Mercury: Not more than 1 mg/kg
Cadmium: Not more than 1 mg/kg
Microbiological criteria
Total plate count: Not more than 5 000 colonies per gram
Yeast and moulds: Not more than 500 colonies per gram
Escherichia coli: Absent in 5 g
Salmonella spp.: Absent in 10 g